Device for feeding cans to operating mechanisms.



L. C. KRUMMEL & J. C. TALIAFERRO. DEVICE FOR FEEDING CANS TO OPERATING MECHANISMS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 10,1908.

93 1 ,434. Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

L. a. KRUMMEL & 5 0. TALIAFERRO. DEVICE FOR. FEEDING CANS T0 OPERATING MECHANISMS.

. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 10,1908.

L. O. KRUMMEL & J. O. TALIAFERRO. DEVICE FOR FEEDING CANS T0 OPERATING MECHANISMS.

APPLICATION FILED DE C.10,1908.

Patented Aug. 17. 1909.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

@fluemfoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS C. KRUMMEL, OF CLINTON, CONNECTICUT, 4ND JOHN C. TALIAFERRO, OF BALTIMORE, MARXLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

Application filed December 10, 1908. Serial No. 466,883.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we,-LoU1s C. KRUM MEL and Jon): C. TALIAFERRO, citizens of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Middlesex, State of Connecticut, and Baltimore, Maryland, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Feeding Cans to an Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accom anying drawing, and to the figures of re erence marked thereon.

()ur invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices for feeding recepfeeding mechanism which will be durable in construction, efficient in operation and of comparatively low cost to build.

A further object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism which is positive in its feeding movements, and in which the movements of the receptacle may be retarded or given a dwell, without stopping the movements of the feeding mechanism. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a positive mechanism for feeding and delivering receptacles to an operating station, which feeding and delivering means is adjustable for different sized receptacles.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a feeding device which is driven at a uniform rate of movement, and which is provided with means for engaging and moving the receptacles positively at varying speeds.

These. and other objects will in part be obvious, and will in part be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings, which' show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a side view of a double seaming machine, showing in end view my improved feeding mechanism; Fig. 2 is afront view partly in section, of the-same;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view'of thefeeding mechanism, also showing the devices for conveying the cans away from the doubleseaming machine; Fig. 4 1s a detail secrigidly attach tion'al view through the support for the cans; and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the adjustment of the guide railforholding the can at the seaming station.

The double-seaming 'machine as herein shown,- com'prises an upright standard 1, in

which is mounted arotating d-ouble-seamer 2. Said rotating double-scanner includes a rotating spindle 3, which is operated by a bevel gear connection with a shaft 4, driven by a belt: 5 from the main shaft of the machine. I

The spindle 3 may be moved up and down to bring the seaming head into operative relation with the can by means of a rock lever 6, which is pivoted to the standard 1, and operated b a cam 7 carried by a cross shaft 8, operate by any suitable connection with the shaft 4. 1

The seaming machine may also be provided with a center rod 9, which is moved up and down by means of a rock lever 10' 0 erated by a cam on the shaft 8. The dou leseaming machine herein shown, however, is merely shown for the urpose of illustration, and forms no part w atever of the present invention; In fact, any other form of double-seaming machine may be substituted for that herein shown. We prefer, however, to use a double-seaming machine which operates upon the can while it is held stationary upon a supporting bed, and consequently the seaming head must, therefore, be moved down into operative relation with the can.

The standard 1 is provided with an out-- wardly projecting bracket 11, on which the can rests during the seaming operation.

Our invention relates particularly to the feeding device for feeding the cans to the double-seaming machine, or what we term herein the seam'in station. Said feeding device, as herein illustrated, consists of a drum 12, which may be a hollow cast metal drum, or which'may be made in any other suitable way. The drum is' provided with a thread 13, which is wound about said drum in a manner so as to secure the desired feeding action. Said thread is secured in any desired way to thedrum, an'd may be cast thereon.

Cooperating with the drum is a sup ort 14, on which the receptacles rest, and a ong Whichthey mg slide. The support 14 isto the. bracket- 11'. As a;

- other side of the receptacle.

su en of the su port for the can, we have provided a stan ard 15, which is threaded into the outer end of the support. The support 7 14 is slotted centrally as at 16, so that the thread on the feedin drum 12 may project above the surface 0 the support 14, (see Figs. 2 and 4). We have also provided the support 14 with an adjustable guide rail 17 drum 12, will be brought into contact with thereceptacles and gradually push the same along the support 14. The speed of movement of the receptacles along the support 14- for any given rateof movement of the drum depends, of course, upon the pitch of the thread wound on said drfim. By varying the pitch of the thread, wears-able to control the speed of the cans or receptacles, so that they may be moved rapidly at times, and

then morev slowly, or if the thread is laid in a plane at right angles to the axis of the drum, the receptacle will, be. brought to a standstill for a iven period of time.

The thread, oi course, may be wound upon the drum with nopitch for a greater portion of its circumference, after which it may be given apitch, so as to carry the can or' receptacle along the support. The thread. at the forward end of the drum is arranged in a plane at right angles to the axis of the drum for a. certain portion of the circumference of the drum, so that when the can or receptacle is brought underneath the seaming head, this portion of the thread on the drum which has no pitch will serve to hold the can or receptacle properly positioned underneath the seaming hea .A guide rail 21 is provided at the end of the feedin drum, so that'the cans or recep tacles are rought against the guiding rail 21 when roperly positioned at the seaming station. t will be seen, therefore, that the thread on the feed drum, the guide rail 17 in the rear'of the can or receptacle and the guide rail 21 serve to properly position the cans at the'seaming station. The rotation -of the drum, which is in the direction of -the arrow, as shown in Fig. 3, will-also. serve to hold the canb'ack againstthe guide rail 17. When bringing the cans or receptacles to aseaming station, it is often desirable to perform other operations upon the can, such as placing the cover on the can or receptacle,

plemental means for supporting the outerwhich may be done by hand or automatically, flattening down any irregularity in the body flange, or clenching the cover to the body, so that it will not shift before it reaches the seamin station.

We have shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3, two operating stations in addition to the seaming station, and the thread on the drum, as herein illustrated, is so. wound as to bring the cans or receptacles to a standstill at each of these operating stations. This bringing :of the can to a standstill allows, of course, .;the operation which is to be performed thereon to be much more easily and quickly accomplished.

While we have shown herein two operating stations, it will be obvious that any number of operating stations may be provided, and that the thread on the drum may be so constructed as to bring the canto a standstill, and to hold it at its operating station for a given period of time. Then again the thread on thedrum may be so constructed as to move the cans more rapidly over certain parts of the support, and as it approaches at one end in the support 14, and at its other end in the bracket 11, carried by the standard 1 of the double-seaming machine. The drum has a central collar 23, which is splined on to the shaft 22. At its other end, a central collar 24 formed in the drum 12 engages a bushing on the shaft 22. An adjustable nut 25 is threaded on to the shaft 22, and serves as a meansfor adjusting the drum lengthwise of the shaft 22. A stop collar 26 secured to the shaft 22 serves to prevent any longitudinal movement of said shaft. The object of this "adjustment of the drum lengthwise ofits e0 crating shaft is to provide for receptacles of different sizes. The thread at the end of the drum must be so located relative to the center of the seaming station as to feed the canor receptacle centrally underneath said seaming station.' If the receptacles are smaller, then, of, course, the drum must be adjusted so as to bring the thread at the end thereof closer to the center of the seaming head. It'is also necessary whenvadjusting the machine for different sized cans, to adjust the guide rails 17 and 18. This 'may be accomplished as above noted, by

rail 21 is bolted to the guiding rail 17 by a suitable bolt 27. When the guide rail 17 is adjusted, the guide rail 21 will be carried thereby, and owing to the arrangement of the slots in the ears 19, the guide rail 21 will be properly located, so as to center the receptacle under the seaming head. The guide rail 21, however, may be separately adjusted by means of the bolt 27, which passes through a slot in the rail 17, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5.

The shaft 22 which drives the drum 12, as herein shown, is given a continuous movement by means of a sprocket wheel 28, and chain 29, which engages a sprocket wheel 30 of the same diameter on the shaft 8. The chain 29 also runs over an idle sprocket wheel 31 mounted on the frame of the double seainer. The double seamer is given one complete operation for each rotation of the shaft 8, and, therefore, the feed drum will likewise be given one rotation for each operation of the seaming head. This timing of the parts, together with the positive feed of the cans by the thread on the drum, causes a proper timing in the delivery of the cans to the seaming head and the operation of the seaming head. That is to say, the cans must be delivered underneath the seaming head when said seaming head is raised from its operative position relative to the cans or receptacles. This timing of the parts after having once been secured, will always be constant.

Instead of driving the drum continuously, as herein shown, it is obvious that said drum may be driven intermittently, if desired, and if the drum were given an intermittent motion, the pitch of the thread which feeds the cans OI IGCGPtEIClEH could be'varied in any way, so as to secure the desired movement of the cans or receptacles, together with the dwell in the said movement.

As a means for removing the cans from the seaming station, after they have been operated upon, we have provided a continuously revolving spider wheel 32. Said spider wheel has preferably three arms 33,

which are brought one after the other, into engagement with the can or receptacle, and

said can is pushed or swept away from the seaming station.

The uide rail 17 at its end is spaced from the talfie, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the arms of the spider 32 may move underneath said guiding rail 17 and engage the can or receiptacle near the bottom thereof. The gui e rail 21 is also raised from the table, so that the arms 33 of the s ider move underneath the same. A gui ing rail 34 is.

der as they are conveyed away from the seaming station. The bracket or support 11 on which the cans rest, is cutaway, so as to form a narrow ledge or shelf 36. Said shelf is narrower in diameter than the smallest can or receptacle to be operated upon, so that when said can is moved on to said shelf by the arms of the spider wheel, they will naturally tip over and fall into a runway 37, whichis secured at one end to the bracket 11, and operates to conveythe cans away from the seaming station.

As a means for operating the spider wheel 32, we have mounted said spider wheel on a short shaft 38, which carries a bevel gear wheel 38) at its lower end. Said bevel gear wheel 39 engages a bevel gear wheel 40, splined to the shaft 22. .The gear wheels 39 and 40 are so constructed as to give the spider one complete rotation to every three rotations of the shaft 22, so that one arm after the other will engage a can or receptacle, and carry the same away from the seaming station.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a support along which receptacles may be conveyed, of continuously operating means for engaging and positively moving said receptacles on said support, and for positively holding said receptacles stationary at predetermined times.

2. In a receptacle closing apparatus, a support along which are located a plurality of operating stations, continuously operating means for engaging and positivel movin said receptacles on said support an for hol ing said receptacles stationary at the operating stations.

3. The combination of a feeding member and means for giving the same a uniform movement, said feeding member having means for simultaneously engaging and moving receptacles at varying speeds.

4. The combination of a'feeding member and mechanism for iving the same a uniform movement, said feeding member havin means for positively moving receptacles and for preventing the movement of said receptacles at several predetermined places.

ceptacles under the seaming head.

7. The combination of a seaming station,-

.thread on said drum for gaging said receptacles under the seaming, head, and means for discharging the receptacles from said seaming head.

8. The combination of an operating station, means for feeding receptacles to said operating station including-a drum on which a thread is irregularly Wound, so that a portion of said thread has a constant pitch and a portion thereof intermediate'its ends has no pitch, and means for discharging the finished receptacle from the operating station. 1

9. The combination of an operating station, means for feedin receptacles to said operating station, inc uding a drum on which a threadis wound, a support cooperating with said drum, said support having a slot therein through which said thread projects, whereb said receptacles may be engaged and sli along said support. 10. The combination of an operating station, of means for feeding receptacles to said operating station, including a drum on which a thread is wound, said thread at the end of said drum being so constructed as to positively hold said receptacles at the operatlng station.

11. The combination of an operating station, of means for feeding receptacles to said operating station, including a drum on which a thread is wound, said thread at the end of said drum being so constructed, as to positively hold said receptacles at theoperating station, and means for discharging the receptacles from said operating station.

12. The combination with an operating station, of means for feeding receptacles to said .operating station, including a drum having a thread woundthereon a support cooperating with said drum along which said receptacles are slid by the thread on the drum, the thread adjacent the operating station having no pitch whereby the receptacle is held stationary for a certain perioduof time, and means for adjusting the drum longitudinally' whereby receptacles of different sizes may be centered at theoperating station.

13. The combination with an operating station, of means for feeding receptacles to said opera-ting station, including a drum, having a thread wound thereon,a support cooperating with said drum along which said receptacles are slid by the thread onthe drum, the thread adjacent the operating station having no pitch whereby the receptacle is, held stationary for a certain period 'of time, and means for adjusting the drum longitudinally whereby receptacles of difierent sizes may be centered at the operatin station, guide rails cooperating with sai su port, .and means whereby said guide ral s may be adjusted for different size receptacles.

14. The combination with a seamin station, of means for feeding .rece tac es to said seaming station, including a rum haV-' seamin station includin a drumhavin a g a g thread wound thereon, said thread at the end of the drum having no pitch whereby the res ceptacles are held at the seeming station 'sta{ tionary during the seamingoperationp uide rails cooperating with said drum for ho ding the receptacles at said station, and means whereby said drum and said uide rails may be adjusted for different sized receptacles.

16. The combination with a seaming station, of means for feeding receptacles to said seaming station, including a drum having a thread wound thereon, said threadat the end of the drum having no pitch whereby the receptacles are held at the seaming station stationary during the seaming 0 eration, guide rails cooperatingwith said. rum-for holding the receptacles at said station, and means for discharging the receptacles from said operating station.

17. The combination of a plurality of operating stations, of means for feeding receptacles from one station to another including a drum having a thread irregularly wound thereon so that a portion of said thread intacles from one station to another includin a drum having a thread irregularly woun 'thereon, whereby said receptacles are held stationary at the different operating stations for a predetermined period, means for giving said drum a continuous rotation, and

means whereby said drum may be adjusted longitudinally, so as to properly center receptacles of different sizes at the operating stations.

19. The combination of a seaming station, of means for feeding receptacles to sald seaming station, including a continuously J rotating drum having a thread wound thereon, of means for discharging the receptacles from said seaming station, including a rotating -spider having projecting arms and means for rotating an arm of said spider aeaaaa across the seaming station, for each revolution of the feeding drum.

20. The combination of a seaming station of means for feeding receptacles to said seaming station, means for discharging receptacles from said seaming station, including a rotating spider, having arms adapted to rotate across the seaming station.

2l. The combination of a seaming head, of means for operating the same, of a stationary table on which the receptacles rest during the seaming operation, means for engaging and moving the receptacles from said seaming head, guide rails for guiding said receptacles, a run way for conveying the receptacles away from the seaming head, said table having a narrowledge extending over the run way, whereby when the receptacles are, slid on said table on to said ledge they will fall into said run way.

22. The combination of a seaming head, of a shaft, means between said shaft and said seamin station foroperating the same, of means or feeding receptacles to said seaming station, including a rotating drum on'which the thread is wound irregularly so that it has a constant pitch and a dwell combined, and means for-driving said drum directly from the shaft to the seaming head.

23. The combination of a seaming head, of a shaft, means between said shaft and said seaming station for operating the same, of means for feeding receptacles to said seaming station, including a rotating drum on which the thread is wound irregularly so that it has a constant pitch and a dwell combined, means for driving said drum directly from the shaft to the seaming head, and

- seaming station, including a rotating drum on which the thread is wound irregularly so that it has a constant pitch and a dwell combined, means for driving said drum directly from the shaft to the seaming head,

means for discharging the finished recepta-.

cles forming said seaming head, and means for carrying oil the receptacles after the have been discharged from the seaming hea 25. The combination of an operating station, of means for feeding receptacles to said operating station, including a drum on which a thread is wound irregularly, so that it has a constant pitch and a dwell combined, means for discharging the finished receptacles from under the seaming head and means for carrying ofi' the receptacles after they have been discharged from the seaming head.

In testimony whereof we afix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS C. KRUMMEL. JOHN C. TA-LIAFERRO.

Witnesses to the signature of John C. Taliaferro E. G. MASON,

C. L.v SrUR'rEvAN'r. 

